Overview of the STAR Initiative

Note that the federal STAR initiative ended in 2025. This page contains helpful videos and resources that inform Evidence-based Reading Instruction (EBRI) for adult learners.

The STudent Achievement in Reading (STAR) initiative focused on building the reading skills of intermediate-level adult learners (GLE 4.0–8.9). 

Years of research in reading methodology identified four "essential components of reading": alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary, and/or comprehension, and also found that mid-level adult learners need all four components to varying degrees, whereas emerging readers need more alphabetics and fluency, and advanced readers need more vocabulary and comprehension.

STAR, aimed at GLE 4-8, was therefore designed to work on all four components, with instruction aligned to the results of diagnostic assessments that identify learners' strengths and weaknesses. 

STAR Students Say . . .

• Understanding the meaning of difficult words is hard but with our group and the way we learn, it is easy to remember and use it each day.
• Before I started to do assessment testing, I never know how much vocabulary I knew... I think it is helpful to know a lot of vocabulary not just to pass the HiSET test. It's helpful to communicate with friends, especially at work.
• The best thing is how the teacher helps us, we are divided by group, and each group is helped in the most necessary way.
• Since I started the vocabulary group, I have been using words in my daily life that I have never used before. Personally, I think that the vocabulary group is the best.

Learn More About STAR

STAR VIDEOS:

• Four STAR instruction videos from Abisi Adult Learning Center in Lowell (director Betty McKiernan). These are best practice videos from the classrooms of STAR teachers Maura McCabe and Christina Cronin. Learn why they continue to teach STAR, and the progress students make. Hear from two students why STAR is important to them.
• STAR Sample DAR Administrations: Part One
• STAR Sample DAR Administration: Part Two
• STAR Vocabulary Lesson
• STAR Comprehension and Fluency Lessons

READ STAR TEACHERS' VIEWS:

• Why I Teach
• "One Thing We Knew For Sure"—Blending Science and Social Studies into STAR

NATIONAL STAR RESOURCES:

• STAR Tips and Techniques Newsletters (these include helpful implementation ideas)
• STAR Research Reviews, annual (review and summary of relevant research on EBRI)
• STAR Resource List (2019)